Brief case



Feb. 2, 1937.

s. `H. LIFTQN BRIEF CASE Filed Sept. 14, 1935 ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2,1937 y UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE BRIEF CASE Samuel H, Liften,Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application September 14, 1935,` Serial No. 40,569

ible 4companion sections each of which isv provided with a complementaryhandle slidably guided in a. pocket defined by n longitudinal wanthereof and 'a centrally disposed facing secured to the inner surface ofthe latter.

It is another object of the invention to provide a brief casecharacterized byhingedly connected sections each having a. pocketadapted to receive and slidably but closely confine a complementarycovered handle substantially rectangular in contour and having its lowerhorizontal brace cooperating to sustain the'load of the case whendisposed adjacent a horizontally disposed line of stitching formingmeans for substantially closing a respective pocket.

, The invention also contemplates an improved -method of forming acomplementary handle by u providing an elongated rod upon which isrolled a substantially ellipitically shaped filler, pared to dene arectilinear face after which the rolled `filler and exposed portions ofthe rod are snugly 3, enclosed within a pliable covering and subse- 0quently portions of the covered rod extending laterally of the fillerare bent downwardly and inwardly to form a substantially rectangularloop. A

40 Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will appearfrom the following detailed description when considered Ain connectionwith the accompanying drawing which for purposes of illustration,disclose preferred em- 45 bodimentsof the invention in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of one form of brief case or envelopeaccording to the invention. 1

Fig. 2 illustrates the-step of rolling a ller up- .'.n on an elongatedcylindrical rod.

Fig. 3 showsgin perspective the filler rolled and secured to theelongated rod to define an clliptically shaped barrel.

Fig. 4 is a. view similar to Fig. 3 but showing 5,5 the barrel pared toconstitute a :dat surface.

(Cl. 15o-1.6)

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a complementary covered handle.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section of the handle taken on the line 6-6 o fFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 1 illus- 5 trating a completedcomplementary handle just prior to insertion thereof in a retainingpocket of an associated section of the case, the pocket being shownopen.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of Fig. 7 showing l0 the complementaryhandle slidably secured in its retaining pocket.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, however,illustrating the companion sections of the brief case. 15

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary view `of a brief case illustrating a slightlymodified form and Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line II-II of Fig.V10.

According to the form illustrated in Fig. 1, 20 the brief ease orenvelope A comprises front and rear hingedly connected companionsections I0 and II each having an outer wall I2 to each of which isstitched a three side flexible rim or gusset I3 'each carryinginterlocking elements I4 25 adapted to be disconnectibly meshed togetherby a slidable rider (not shown) whereby the opposing gussets of thejuxtapositionedsections I0 and II may be conveniently brought togetheror separated for holding these sections closed or for readily openingthe latter respectively as is well understood.' It will be noted,however, (see Fig. 7) that the central part I5 of an outer wall I2 andassociated central marginal part I6 of a gusset are leftunstitchedthereby providing a gap IE' in which is arranged the uppermarginal portion II of a rectangularly shaped flexible facing I8 havingits side and lower marginal portions first secured to an inner surfaceof its outer wall of the case by a U-shaped line of 40 stitchings I9.

Hence facing I8 and associated outer wall of the case define a pocket orcompartment 20 in which a complementary slidable handle generallydenoted 2| in part is slidably inserted after which 45 upper marginalportions I5, I'I and I6 of an outer wall I2 of the case, the interveningfacing I8; and a companion gusset, respectively are secured Vtogether bya line of stitching 22, which is prevented from unravelling by thespacedv ferrules 23 secured to the ends of the line of stitching 22 andto the outer wall of the case, the intervening facing and the gusset,thereby constituting supplementary fastening means for jointly holdingthe latter firmlyA connected together. The

line of stitching 22 terminates just short of the inside faces of spacedarms 24' of the inserted handle.`consequently' forming spaced guidesockets or gaps 25, the walls of which are formed by. the interveningfacing I8, and an outer wall I2 whereby the sides 24 may be closelyconfined although slidably guided relative to its complementary section.It follows therefore handles 2l may be extended or withdrawn in themanner las: indicated by the dash lines. shown in Fig. 1 relative to thecomplementary sections when it is desired to carry the' case about fromplace to place, or

a handle may be retracted or closed by slidably -secured to thepenultimate coil thereof. Subsequently ller 28 is pared to form arectilinear face 29, Except for its terminal portions 30 the rod and itspared ller'are snugly'disposed -in a flexible casing 3| which has itsmeeting ends 32 secured by a line of stitching 33.

'Ihe covered rod 21 is then appropriately bent to form the upperhorizontal brace 34, which includes the pared filler and depending frombrace 34 are the vertical sides 24 from which inwardly extend the partlycovered arms 3|) constituting the lower brace of thel handle and thesides of the latter are slidably disposed in spaced sockets 25 in itscompanion brief case section, the fiat face 36, however, of each handlefacing inwardly and are adapted to be juxtapositioned and in contactwhen the complementary handles are brought together.

When assembled within a pocket 20 of its `respective section, the lowerhorizontal brace of a handle constituted by adjacent alined ends 30, in

a projected position of the handle, cooperate with l According to thebrief case or envelope illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 the gussets I3 areeliminated, the interlocking fastening means vIll being secured directlyto the marginal portionsof the front and rear walls I2 and to a part-ofthe flexible facings vl 8 attached to the inner faces of walls I2.However, in Figs. 10 and 11, the outer walls I2 are each provided with ahorizontally disposed kerf or cut 31 forming an entrance to compartment2li` to permit insertion of a complementary handle 2l and after thelatter is inserted a line of stitching 22 is applied to connect togetherthe outer wallsand its facing above the lower brace of thehandle 'toform spaced sockets 25 to slidably guide the vertical sides of thehandle. In otheraspects, the construction according to Figs. 10 and 11is substantially identical to the form illustrated inFigs. 1 to 9inclusive.

vWhile the invention has been described in detail and reference has beenmade to specific applications thereof, it is to be understood that theinvention herein disclosed is not limited to such specific applicationsand it is intended that all matter` contained in the above descriptionor 'shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and'not in a limiting sense. t l

I claim:

1. In a brief case, the combination of, disconnectible and hingedlyassociated complementary sections each of which comprises: an outer wallconstituting a part vof said case, a facing secured at its sides andbottom to a surface of said wall and forming with the latter anaccessible pocket open substantially at the top of said facing, a handlecomprising; an'upper' substantially horizontal grip'portion, verticalside arms and a lower substantially horizontal brace, said handle beinginserted in said pocket except for said grip portion, and a line ofstitching partially closing the pocket opening defined by said wall andfacing, said line of stitching extending between said side arms abovesaid brace to dene gaps between the sides of said pocket and said lineof stitching for slidably guiding said arms, said line of stitchingcooperating with said brace to limit upward displacement of said handlerelative to said outer wall. 2. In a brief case, the combination of,disconnectible and hingedly associated 'complementaryl sections. each ofwhich comprises; an outer wall constituting a part of said case, afacing secured at its sides and bottom to a surface of said wall andforming with vthe latter an accessible pocket open-substantially at thetop of said facing, a handle comprising; an upper substantiallyhorizontal grip portion, vertical side arms and a lower substantiallyhorizontal brace, said han'- dle being insertedv in said pocket exceptfor said grip portion, and securing means partially closing thepocketdefined by said wall and facing,

said securing means extending between said arms above said brace todefine spaced gaps for slidably guiding said arms during displacement ofsaid handle relativev to said wall and facing, said securing meanscooperating with said brace to limit upward displacement of said handlerelative to said wall and facing.

3. In a brief case, the combination of, disconnectible and hingedlyassociated complementary sections each of which comprises; an outer wallconstituting a part of said case, a facing disposed at the upper portionof said wall and having its sides and bottom secured to an inner surfaceof said wall and defining with the latter a pocket having an opening atthe top thereof, a handle comprising; an upper substantially horizontalgrip portion, depending vertical side arms and a lower substantiallyhorizontal brace, said handle being insertedin said vpocket through saidopening as to leave said grip portion exposed above said pocket, and aline of stitching secured to said wall and facing for partially closingsaid opening, said line of stitching extending between said side armsabove said brace to define gaps between the sides of said pocket andsaid line of stitchingjor slidably guiding said vertical arms, said lineof stitching cooperating with said brace to limit upward displacement ofsaid handle relative to said outer wall.

4. In a brief case, the combination of, disconnectible and hingedlyassociated complementary sections each of which comprises; an outer wallconstituting a part of said case, a facing disposed at the upper portionof said wall and havir. its sides and bottom-secured to an inner surfaceof said wall and dening therewith a pocket horizontal brace, said handlebeing inserted in having a 'relatively elongatedopening substantially atthe top thereof, a handle comprising; an upper substantially horizontalgrip portion having integrally depending vertical sides each having aninwardly turned portion constituting alined complementary membersdefining substantially horizontal brace means, said handle beinginserted in said pocket through said opening as to leave said gripportion exposed above said pocket, a line of stitching secured to saidwall and facing for partially closing said opening, said line ofstitching extending between said side arms above said brace means todefine gaps between the sides of said pocket and said line of stitchingfor slidably guiding said vertical arms during displacement of saidhandle relative to said wall, said line of stitching cooperating withsaid brace means to limit upward displacement of said handle relative tosaid Wall.

5. In a brief case, the combination of, disconnectible and hingedlyassociated complementary sections each of which comprises; a wall,facing means secured at its sides and bottom to an upper surface of saidwall to form a pocket open at its top, a slidable handle comprising anupper substantially horizontaldgrip portion, vertical and depending sidearms and a lower substantially said pocket except for said grip portion.and a line of stitching partially closing said pocket opening anddisposed between said arms 'at the upper marginal portion of said facingmeans and said wall to form spaced gaps for slidably guiding said arms,said line of stitching cooperating with said brace to limit upwardbodily displacement of said handle relative to said wall.

v 6. In' a brief case, the combination of, disconnectible and hingedlyassociated complementary sections each of which comprises; a wail,facing means secured at its sides and bottom to an upper surface of saidwall to form a pocket open at its top, a slidable handle comprising anupper substantially horizontal grip portion, vertical and depending sidearms and a lower substantially horizontal brace, said handle beinginserted in said pocket except for ysaid grip portion, and securingmeans partially closing said pocket opening and disposed between saidarms at the upper marginal portions of said facing means and said wallto form spaced gaps for slidabiy guiding said arms, said securing meanscooperating with said brace to limit upward bodily displacement or saidhandle relative to said wall.

SAMUEL H. LIETON.

